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Welcome to the oneida county history center, preserving history and promoting the culture of the Greater Mohawk Valley since 1876

2019 Hall of Fame and Living Legends Named!

Four New Local History Puzzles now available!

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Four new puzzles have just arrived at the History Center bookstore! Three join our existing inventory of historic Utica scenes - the Stanley Theater, Olbiston Apartments and Boston Store- and a fourth features the toboggan slide at Sylvan Beach. Each 504 piece puzzle measures 16” x 20” and retails for $17.99 plus tax. 

Three new exhibits Coming This August!

Three new exhibits created by summer interns David, Derek, Emily, and Kennen open on August 28, 2019.  Each invites you to explore a different facet of Oneida County History from the colonial era to present day. Visit our exhibits page for more information. 

​August 1st through 30th, 2019- Historical Selfie Scavenger Hunt

Explore Mohawk Valley history through this interactive, county-wide scavenger hunt. Grab your camera to learn about the people, places, and events that shaped Oneida County and your community. Document your journey with a photo or selfie and be sure to post and share. All ages are encouraged to participate with prizes for children age 18 and under. Pick up your clue sheet and instructions at the History Center or download from our website starting August 1st.

Wednesday, August 28 from 5:00-7:00 pm - Summer Exhibits Opening Reception

Join us to celebrate the opening of three new exhibits: Oneida County: New York’s Key to the West, The Power of the Vote, and The First Church of Christ in Oneida County, A Classically Homegrown American Religion.  These exhibits are the culmination of our interns’ summer projects and explore the many facets of Oneida County History. Free and open to all ages. Light refreshments will be served.

Wednesday, September 11 at 5:30 pm - Jesse Williams and the First Cheese Factory​

Jesse Williams, a successful farmer and cheese maker in Rome, NY, believed that farmers could maximize their profits by working together as cooperative dairies.  He started the first cheese factory in the United States and revolutionized agriculture both locally and across the nation. Join Patrick Reynolds, Rome Historical Society Museum Educator, to sample the history behind the modern cheese industry. Free!

Wednesday, September 18 at 5:30 pm - The Young Liberators: 75th Anniversary Commemoration of the Normandy Campaign

World War II Veteran Kenneth C. Thayer and co-author Allan D. Foote retell the supreme bravery and sacrifice made by the 30th Infantry Division GIs during World War II in the European Theatre. This program is based upon their book The Young Liberators. Free!

Wednesday, September 25 from 5:00-8:00 pm- Hall of Fame & Living Legends Awards Banquet at Hart’s Hill Inn

Celebrate the 2019 inductees of the Oneida County Historical Hall of Fame and Living Legends at our annual awards banquet. Help us honor the inductees for their service to the community and for furthering the region's industries, culture, and educational opportunities.  Tickets should be purchased in advance by calling 315-735-3642. Tickets are $50 for OCHC members and $60 for the general public.

Programs & events

​Oneida County History Center

Membership is one of the most rewarding ways to experience Oneida County's past, present, and future.

2019 Telethon Sponsors

The Oneida County Historical Hall of Fame, begun in 1946, has named five individuals to its 2019 inductee class: Spanish American and World War I veteran Sgt. Charles Adrean, Utica Mayor Boyd Golder, Jewish community advocate Libby Sherman Kowalsky, broadcast personality and Holocaust survivor Julian Noga, and "the father of college hockey," Albert Prettyman. The Hall of Famers will be inducted alongside the 2019 Richard W. Couper ‘Living Legends’ class: Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, retired Observer-Dispatch publisher and president Donna Donovan, beloved bakery and restaurant owners Segean and Mary Ann Karam, jazz musician Monk Rowe, and Oneida County Legislator Ed Welsh. 

This year's inductees will be honored at the History Center's annual Historical Hall of Fame and Living Legends Awards Banquet at Hart's Hill Inn on Wednesday, September 25, starting at 5:00 pm.  Tickets should be purchased in advance by calling the History Center at 315-735-3642 or by mail using the form below.  Prices are $50 for current OCHC members, $60 for the general public, and $440 for tables of eight. More information about the honorees can be found on the website's News Page.

Hours of Operation

Monday-Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Closed -Labor Day

Make Your Mark in History 

Living Legends

Class of 2019

Historical Selfie Scavenger Hunt Clue Sheets & instructions

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The 2019 Historical Selfie Scavenger Hunt invites you to explore the people, places, and events that shaped our community. Choose a county-wide adventure or a Utica-based version and follow the instructions. Be sure to share your adventure and post your photos on social media. Don’t forget to tag the History Center!

Download a copy below or visit us in person to particpate. All entries must be received by Friday, August 30, 2019 at 4:00 pm. Contact Rebecca McLain at 315-735-3642 or rmclain@oneidacountyhistory.org with questions. Good luck!